Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1905 — CONGRESS [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS

When the House reconvened Wednesday after the holiday recess Mr. Grosvenor (Ohio) submitted the report of the merchant marine committee, the minority being given until Friday to submit their views. Mr. Mann (Ill.; announced the death of his late colleague, William E. Mahoney of Illinois, and offered the customary resolutions, and as a further mark of respect to the late member the House adjourned. There was a large attendance of Senators when the Senate was called to order. President pro tern. Frye being still absent. Senator Perkins presided. Mr. Platt (X. Y.) reported a resolution for the printing of 10,000 Copies of the report of the commissioner of corporations, and accepted an amendment suggested by Mr. Bailey providing for printing with the report a decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, which he said the report criticises. Mr. Warren reported the omnibus claims hill and gave notice that he would nsk early consideration of the bill, which represents 1,000 claimants. Mr. Heyburn introduced a bill for the regulation of corporations, winch was referred to the committee on the judiciary. By a vote of 31 to 17 the Senate decided to consider the bill for creating the States of Oklahoma and New Mexico. During the discussion of the statehood bill the Senate adjourned out of respect to the memory of Congressman Mahoney of Chicago. The government’s cotton statistics as prepared by the Agricultural Department and census bureau formed the subject of an extended discussion in the House Thursday. Representative Livingston of Georgia attacked the reliability of the government’s estimates, and charged that the inaccuracy of the figures had created a panic in the cotton market. He called attention to the dissatisfaction which he said existed in the South over the government cotton statistics, and said that the press of that section was ready to demand the abolition of the statistical bureau of the Agrieultudal Department. The question came upon a motion by Mr. Wadsworth, chairman of the committee on agriculture, to lay on the table the resolution presented by Mr. Livingston several weeks ago calling on the Secretary of Agriculture for information regarding the method of collecting cotton statistics. The motion to lay on the table prevailed, after Messrs. Burleson (Texas), Wadsworth (N. Y.), Lovering (Mass.) and Sims (Tcmr.) had vigorously defended the government’s estimates. The joint statehood bill again occupied the major portion of the attention of the Senate, and Mr. X’elson completed his speech in support of it. The omnibus claims hill was read in part, but no effort was made to secure action on it. r lhe following bills were passed: I'rescribing means for (lie promotion of army officers of the line while on duty in the ordnance department, and fixing the number of officers of all grades in that corps; providing for the reorganization of the medical department of the army creating a reserve corps and doing away with most of the contract surgeons.

A bill was passed by the Senate Friday authorizing the issue of obsolete ordnance to State educational institutions. The reading of the omnibus claims bill was completed. Mr. Hard of California spoke in opposition to the joint statehood Dill oil the ground that the people of Arizona and New Mexico do not desire union. Mr. Tillman also opposed union of the territories, saying it would subject the people of Arizona to domination of Mexicans and “greasers.” Adjourned until Monday. In the House the bill to revise the laws relating to steam vessels was recommitted, ihe fortifications appropriation bill was passed after debate in which Mr. Littauer of New York explained the provisions of the measure and Mr. Raker of New York criticised it. attacking President Roosevelt as “wanting to hold himself up as the counterpart of Wilhelm 11., the great war god.” Mr. Adams of Pennsylvania spoke in favor of his bill for the establishment of the whipping post in the District of Columbia. Adjourned until Monday.

In the National Capital. All thought of railroad legislation at this session is abandoned. The Supreme Court decides that a West Point cadet is no army officer. Bill introduced favors reducing naval cost and subsidy for the merchant marine. The arbitration treaty between Great Britain and the United States has been signed. The United States Supreme Court adjourned until Jan. 9, for the Christmas holidays. Various measures have been Introduced in Congress for federal control of corporations. Porto Rico is to have a system of civil service similar to that now in force in the Philippines. Attorney General Moody, in brief in Supreme Court, charged Chicago packers wKh conspiracy. Assistant Secretary Armstrong of the Treasury Department denied reports that he inteuded to resign. Resolution introduced in Senate to inquire into Lawson’s and Parker’s stories of election corruption. Representative Sterling introduced a bill providing for the construction of a public building at Pontiac, 111., to cost SOO,OOO. The merchant marine commission is fighting the steel tariff schedule, claiming tlint the cheapness of the American product abroad kills shipbuilding. Senator Platt of New York presented to the Senate a petition asking that provision l>e made for the collection of statistics relating to marriages and divorces. A bill lias been proposed In Congress giving interstate commerce commission power to hx freight rates on complaint, rates to stand pending appeal to Supreme Court. . * Senator Stewart Introduced a bill to fix the salaries of the President at SIOO.000, the Vice President and Speaker of ths House of Representatives at $20,000 .each, and each Senator. Representative and delegate at $10,900.